After reading this, I have backtracked a little in my support of the Israeli campaign in Lebanon. Three soldiers' lives simply do not justify that level of attack against Lebanon, but considering Israel's situation, I understand where they are coming from on this. It would be indefensible, were it any other country.
At this point, I think Israel needs an all-out ground war with Hezbollah. They need it for their reputation in the Middle East. The quality of the average Hezbollah fighter and his equipment is generally considered to be very inferior to Israel's army, so it could have been a short and extremely bloody reminder to other Muslim groups that Israel is not a paper tiger.
If I were in Olmert's shoes, I would have told the Prime Minister of Lebanon that if he is sincere about wanting Hezbollah to no longer be a threat to Lebanon's sovereignty, that he will stand down as the Israeli Army invades southern Lebanon, circles around Hezbollah and makes them fight for their very existance. I would have them cut off, and have the army go door-to-door and root them out. Fight them and butcher them in the streets.
There would be no relenting until no Israeli Arab or Jew feared having Katsuyah rockets raining down on their home at night. Instead of worrying about the lives of three men, I would order the army to give Hezbollah the apocalyptic battle they so desparately want and if any should beg for mercy, I would order them to be shot in the stomach and left to bleed to death in the hottest time of the day, in the middle of the desert.
If I were in Olmert's shoes, Hezbollah would be in its death throes as an organization right now. Southern Lebanon would be littered with the corpses of Hezbollah fighters, and they would be so badly, so horrifically killed that even 7,200 virgins would not be enough to make most young men dream of martyrdom.
If I were in Olmert's shoes...
You miss one piece here, Mike.
(And I'm not a fan of Olmert - he is a secular sell-out, like we have had here for far too long, who ignores God and His lessons.)
Israel's army takes care of its own. (Sadly, there is too much evidence of our own soldiers abandoned by our government - and not only in Viet Nam.)
At least Olmert is not making that mistake as well.
I understand why they are doing it, but they seem to be taking things a little bit too far with their bombing of Northern Lebanon where the Druze and Christians are the majority. I think it would have been a lot better for them to have said, "that's it! Lebanon, if you are serious about getting rid of Hezbollah, then get out of our way." Then proceed to do the circle, trap and annihilate tactic we used on the Iraqi Army during the Persian Gulf War.
The problem with this is that while they are Israelis, they are soldiers and soldiers' lives are expendable. Israel has only added to its propaganda problems by launching such an aggressive campaign all over Lebanon for three men's lives. I think they could have accomplished more by launching a land invasion to wipe out Hezbollah once and for all, than by relying on a few search and destroy sorties with a heavy bombing campaign.
I don't disagree with your comments on cutting off Hezbollah (although I admit to only armchair military strategist status). Ultimately, however, it does seem that the Bible warns us to expect that Israel will be accused by the world of 'over-reaction' - however that plays out. (and Isaiah 17 seems to suggest not buying Damascus-area real estate...)
Israel will always be accused of excess, but the modern secular state of Israel has done a lot to feed that propaganda. They need to get down and dirty with Hezbollah and fight them in the trenches and kick their asses two ways across Lebanon. I think that if there is anything that would help them out, beating the enemy in a "fair fight" which would be a ground attack would actually undermine such groups in the future.